International Building Code Section 2110 – International Building Code 2006 Discussions

International Building Code 2110.1

Scope. This section covers the empirical requirements
for nonload-bearing glass unit masonry elements in exterior or
interior walls.

Limitations. Solid or hollow approved glass block
shall not be used in fire walls, party walls, fire barriers or fire
partitions, or for load-bearing construction. Such blocks shall
be erected with mortar and reinforcement in metal channel-
type frames, structural frames, masonry or concrete
recesses, embedded panel anchors as provided for both exterior
and interior walls or other approved joint materials.
Wood strip framing shall not be used inwalls required to have
a fire-resistance rating by other provisions of this code.
Exceptions:
1. Glass-block assemblies having a fire protection
rating of not less than 3/4 hour shall be permitted as
opening protectives in accordance with Section
715 in fire barriers and fire partitions that have a
required fire-resistance rating of 1 hour or less and
do not enclose exit stairways or exit passageways.
2. Glass-block assemblies as permitted in Section
404.5, Exception 2.

International Building Code 2110.1.1

International Building Code 2110.2

Units. Hollow or solid glass-block units shall be standard
or thin units.

Standard units. The specified thickness of standard
units shall be at least 3 7/8 inches (98 mm).

Thin units. The specified thickness of thin units
shall be 3 1/8 inches (79 mm) for hollowunits or 3 inches (76
mm) for solid units.

International Building Code 2110.2.1

Standard units. The specified thickness of standard
units shall be at least 3 7/8 inches (98 mm).

International Building Code 2110.2.2

Thin units. The specified thickness of thin units
shall be 3 1/8 inches (79 mm) for hollowunits or 3 inches (76
mm) for solid units.

International Building Code 2110.3

Panel size.

Exterior standard-unit panels. The maximum
area of each individual exterior standard-unit panel shall be
144 square feet (13.4 m2) when the design wind pressure is
20 psf (958 N/m2). The maximum panel dimension between
structural supports shall be 25 feet (7620 mm) in width or 20
feet (6096 mm) in height. The panel areas are permitted to
be adjusted in accordance with Figure 2110.3.1 for other
wind pressures.

Exterior thin-unit panels. The maximum area of
each individual exterior thin-unit panel shall be 85 square feet
(7.9 m2). The maximum dimension between structural supports
shall be 15 feet (4572 mm) in width or 10 feet (3048
mm) in height. Thin units shall not be used in applications
where the design wind pressure exceeds 20 psf (958 N/m2).

Interior panels. The maximum area of each individual
standard-unit panel shall be 250 square feet (23.2
m2). The maximum area of each thin-unit panel shall be 150
square feet (13.9 m2). The maximum dimension between
structural supports shall be 25 feet (7620 mm) in width or 20
feet (6096 mm) in height.

Solid units. The maximum area of solid
glass-block wall panels in both exterior and interior walls
shall not be more than 100 square feet (9.3 m2).

Curved panels. The width of curved panels shall
conform to the requirements of Sections 2110.3.1, 2110.3.2
and 2110.3.3, except additional structural supports shall be
provided at locations where a curved section joins a straight
section, and at inflection points in multicurved walls.

International Building Code 2110.3.1

International Building Code 2110.3.2

International Building Code 2110.3.3

International Building Code 2110.3.4

Solid units. The maximum area of solid
glass-block wall panels in both exterior and interior walls
shall not be more than 100 square feet (9.3 m2).

International Building Code 2110.3.5

International Building Code 2110.4

Support.

General requirements. Glass unit masonry panels
shall be isolated so that in-plane loads are not imparted to
the panel.

Vertical. Maximum total deflection of structural
members supporting glass unitmasonry shall not exceed l/600.

Support on wood construction. Glass unit
masonry having an installed weight of 40 psf (195 kg/m2)
or less and a maximum height of 12 feet (3658 mm) shall
be permitted to be supported on wood construction.

Expansion joint. A vertical expansion joint
in glass unit masonry shall be provided to isolate the
glass unit masonry supported bywood construction from
that supported by other types of construction.

Lateral. Glass unit masonry panels more than one
unit wide or one unit high shall be laterally supported along
2006 INTERNATIONAL BUILDING CODE 407
MASONRY
their tops and sides. Lateral support shall be provided by
panel anchors along the top and sides spaced not more than
16 inches (406 mm) o.c. or by channel-type restraints. Glass
unit masonry panels shall be recessed at least 1 inch (25
mm) within channels and chases. Channel-type restraints
shall be oversized to accommodate expansion material in
the opening and packing and sealant between the framing
restraints and the glass unit masonry perimeter units. Lateral
supports for glass unit masonry panels shall be designed
to resist applied loads, or a minimum of 200 pounds per lineal
feet (plf) (2919 N/m) of panel, whichever is greater.
Exceptions:
1. Lateral support at the top of glass unit masonry
panels that are no more than one unit wide shall not
be required.
2. Lateral support at the sides of glass unit masonry
panels that are no more than one unit high shall not
be required.

Single unit panels. Single unit glass unit
masonry panels shall conform to the requirements of
Section 2110.4.3, except lateral support shall not be provided
by panel anchors.

International Building Code 2110.4.1

General requirements. Glass unit masonry panels
shall be isolated so that in-plane loads are not imparted to
the panel.

International Building Code 2110.4.2

Vertical. Maximum total deflection of structural
members supporting glass unitmasonry shall not exceed l/600.

Expansion joint. A vertical expansion joint
in glass unit masonry shall be provided to isolate the
glass unit masonry supported bywood construction from
that supported by other types of construction.

International Building Code 2110.4.2.1

International Building Code 2110.4.2.2

Expansion joint. A vertical expansion joint
in glass unit masonry shall be provided to isolate the
glass unit masonry supported bywood construction from
that supported by other types of construction.

International Building Code 2110.4.3

Single unit panels. Single unit glass unit
masonry panels shall conform to the requirements of
Section 2110.4.3, except lateral support shall not be provided
by panel anchors.

International Building Code 2110.4.3.1

Single unit panels. Single unit glass unit
masonry panels shall conform to the requirements of
Section 2110.4.3, except lateral support shall not be provided
by panel anchors.

International Building Code 2110.5

Expansion joints. Glass unit masonry panels shall be
provided with expansion joints along the top and sides at structural
supports. Expansion joints shall have sufficient thickness
to accommodate displacements of the supporting structure, but
shall not be less than 3/8 inch (9.5 mm) in thickness. Expansion
joints shall be entirely free of mortar or other debris and shall
be filled with resilient material. The sills of glass-block panels
shall be coated with approved water-based asphaltic emulsion,
or other elastic waterproofing material, prior to laying the first
mortar course.

International Building Code 2110.6

Mortar. Mortar for glass unit masonry shall comply
with Section 2103.8.

International Building Code 2110.7

Reinforcement. Glass unit masonry panels shall have
horizontal joint reinforcement spaced not more than 16 inches
(406 mm)on center, located in the mortar bed joint, and extending
the entire length of the panel but not across expansion
joints. Longitudinal wires shall be lapped a minimum of 6
inches (152 mm) at splices. Joint reinforcement shall be placed
in the bed joint immediately below and above openings in the
panel. The reinforcement shall have not less than two parallel
longitudinal wires of size W1.7 (MW11), and have welded
cross wires of size W1.7 (MW11).